How to Clean a Dog Bed or Cat Bed: Covers, Foam and Odors

Your pet’s bed is often the main reason a room smells like dog or cat. It collects hair, skin oils, dirt from paws and, now and then, an accident. The good news: most beds can be cleaned at home, as long as you treat the cover and the filling differently. This guide covers covers, washable beds, foam inserts, cat beds and what to do after a urine accident.

It follows the CDC’s guidance on cleaning pet supplies, which is public domain, and advice from Humane World for Animals on pet stains and odors. Always check the care label on the bed first. It tells you the water temperature, whether the filling can go in the machine and how to dry it.

How often to wash a pet bed

The CDC’s advice for “pet beds, blankets, and habitats” is simple: “Clean every week.” Clean more often if they look dirty or smell. A weekly wash of the cover, blankets and throws is a good routine for most homes. Wash more often if your pet sheds heavily, has fleas, goes outside a lot or has had an accident. The same routine works for cat beds and blankets.

Before you wash: get the hair off

In our experience, it pays to vacuum the surface, crevices and sides of the bed before it goes anywhere near water, then lift the remaining hair with a lint roller or a damp rubber glove. Wet hair clumps and can clog a washing machine, so this step matters more than it looks.

If your pet also sleeps on your bed, see how to get pet hair off sheets, duvets and your bed.

Beds with a removable cover

1. Unzip the cover and shake it out outside.
2. Machine wash it following the label. The CDC says pet bedding can go in the machine with your clothes, using the cycle and water temperature that suit the fabric. It adds that a detergent with no dyes and no fragrance may be better if your pet has sensitive skin.
3. Clean the insert separately according to what it is made of (see below).
4. Dry everything fully before you put the bed back together.

Fully washable beds and cushions

Many smaller fiber-filled beds can go in the machine whole. Check that the bed fits in the drum with room to move, because an overfull machine does not rinse well and leftover detergent or dirt stays in the filling. A laundromat’s large machine is often the better choice for big beds.

For beds that cannot go in a machine, wash them by hand with warm, soapy water. The CDC says not to use your kitchen sink for pet items: use a tub kept for your pet, or a laundry sink or bathtub with people’s things cleared out, and clean and disinfect it straight afterwards. Rinse until the water runs clear, then press out as much water as you can.

Foam and memory foam inserts

Foam is the part people most often ruin. Most foam inserts are not made for a washing machine: the agitation can tear the foam, and a soaked foam block takes a long time to dry. Follow the maker’s care label. In general:

• Vacuum the foam and spot clean it with a damp cloth and a little mild detergent rather than soaking it.
• Air dry it fully, away from direct heat, before it goes back in the cover.
• A waterproof liner between the foam and the cover protects it from accidents. Many orthopedic beds come with one or sell it separately.

Drying: the step that prevents the smell coming back

The CDC says to air dry or use a dryer, and that to disinfect, you can use a dryer on the highest heat for 30 minutes, if the care label allows it. In our view, air drying is often safer for thick beds, because some fillings clump in a dryer. Wait until thick, fiber-filled beds are completely dry before your pet uses them again, since damp bedding can grow mold. Squeeze the thickest part of the bed: if it feels cool or damp inside, it is not dry yet. On a sunny day, drying outside speeds things up.

After a urine accident

1. Blot up as much as you can with paper towels, pressing rather than rubbing.
2. Rinse the area with cold water from the back of the fabric if you can.
3. Treat it with an enzymatic cleaner. Humane World for Animals recommends enzymatic cleaners for pet urine, because they break down pet waste odors. Let it work for the time on the label.
4. Wash the cover and any washable filling, then air dry and smell it before you use it again. If you can still smell urine, repeat the enzyme step before using any heat.

Humane World for Animals advises avoiding ammonia and vinegar for pet urine, because strong chemical smells may encourage a pet to mark the same spot again. If urine soaked into a foam insert, the insert may need to be replaced; the smell is very hard to remove from deep inside foam.

Pet beds leave hair in the drum and the lint filter. See how to clean pet hair and odor out of the washer and dryer.

Blood spots on the bed while your dog is in heat? See how to clean blood spots from a dog in heat.

Cat beds, cat trees and blankets

• Soft cat beds and blankets: wash them the same way as dog bedding. Cats are sensitive to strong smells, so a fragrance-free detergent helps them accept the bed again.
• Cat trees and carpeted perches: vacuum often and spot clean with a damp cloth. For a urine accident, use an enzymatic cleaner, as for carpet. See how to get cat urine smell out.
• Heated beds: unplug them and remove any heating pad before cleaning. Follow the maker’s instructions; never put the electrical part in water.

Crate pads and carriers need the same care; see how to clean a dog crate or pet carrier.

For the posts, platforms and boards of a cat tree, see how to clean a cat tree and scratching posts.

Wash the toys that live in the bed too; see how to clean pet toys.

When to replace the bed

In our view, it is time to replace bedding that is heavily infested with fleas, and beds that still smell after washing. Torn covers that expose foam or stuffing are also worth replacing, since pets can chew and swallow the filling.

Dealing with fleas? Bedding is only one part, so see how to clean your home during a flea problem.

Make it easier next time

• Choose beds with a zip-off, machine-washable cover.
• Keep a spare cover or blanket, so your pet has a clean bed while the other one dries.
• Put a washable throw on top of the bed and wash that weekly; it catches most of the hair and dirt.
• For the rest of the house, see how to get rid of dog smell in the house.

Does your dog shed in the car too? See how to remove dog and cat hair from your car.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit has gloves, an enzyme odor product, an absorbent powder and a black light in one pouch, so you can deal with an accident on the bed right away. To find old spots on bedding and nearby carpet, see how to find pet urine with a black light.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put a dog bed in the dryer?

Only if the care label says so. The CDC says either air drying or a dryer is fine, but some fillings clump in a dryer. Covers are often fine on low heat; inserts and foam are usually better air dried.

What detergent is safe for pet beds?

Ordinary laundry detergent works. The CDC says one with no dyes and no fragrance may be better if your pet has sensitive skin. Rinse well so no residue is left in the fabric, since your pet sleeps with its face on it.

How do I get the smell out of a dog bed that cannot be washed?

Vacuum it thoroughly, spot clean the cover, treat any urine spots with an enzymatic cleaner and let it air out fully, outdoors if you can. If the smell stays after that, it may be time to replace it.

How often should I wash my cat’s bed?

The same weekly routine works well for cat beds and blankets, and more often if your cat sheds a lot, has fleas or has had an accident.

Sources

• CDC: About cleaning and disinfecting pet supplies
• Humane World for Animals: How to remove pet stains and odors

This guide is general cleaning information. Follow the bed’s care label and the product label, and test cleaners on a hidden area first.